I can understand frustration of the fans, says Bristol Rovers manager Mark McGhee

MARK McGhee "recognises and accepts" the feelings which led a group of Bristol Rovers fans to protest after the latest defeat in a disappointing season.

The manager left the field to angry chants following last Saturday's 1-0 home defeat by Dagenham & Redbridge, which put Rovers in the League Two relegation zone.

Around 50 supporters stayed on after the final whistle to direct more criticism in the direction of the boardroom.

But McGhee still has nothing but praise for the backing he and the team have received and has told his players they must show the character to take the inevitable stick that accompanies their lowly league position.

"The crowd reaction was not a reflection on the performance against Dagenham, but an accumulation of frustration over a number of results and our position in the table," he said.

"I've told the players they have to be big and brave enough to accept that and go all out to prove they are better than our form suggests.

"I am certainly not dismissive of the way our fans are feeling. I recognise it and the need to work hard to turn things around.

"I know where we are short as a team and there have been certain things I have been trying to do to resolve that since the start of the season. We have suffered badly with injuries, a factor that cannot be dismissed.

"Confidence has suffered through not winning and now that we have one or two key players back we are still not firing on all cylinders.

"We have Cian Bolger coming back into contention, so that will be another one added, and Matt Lund is available again after suspension. Beyond that, the aim is to bring in some new faces going into the New Year.

"The supporters have been tremendous and I can have no complaints about the backing I have received from them or the board."

Rovers take on Coventry City this evening in the third round of the FA Youth Cup. The match is being played at Nuneaton Town's Liberty Way Stadium, kick-off 7pm.

gasincider. Could you foresee a situation where the Mem is sold, realising a substantial amount of cash for the owners of Bristol Rovers 1883 Ltd, but the UWE Stadium is not built ?
And do you know who has been awarded the contract for construction of the UWE Stadium ?

On a serious note, if we went down how many of you would continue to go on a regular basis ?
Living 120 miles away, havin supported the Gas for 40+ years, I would have to say NO
Stay in the league and I stay.

Dickpuller get back to what your name suggests.
In answer to your points i would say the following:
The Mem application delay is nowt to do with Rovers. Its Sainsburys app and the council have asked for several points to be revised hence the delay.
Mangotsfield dont have anything to do with Rovers.
If McGhee is sacked the legal position is his contract either has to be paid up or a negotiated figure agreed.
If the Mem is sold that would mean planning had been agreed as this is already subject to legal agreements.
If the board are trying to make money they would now need the planning app to fail and then sell the Mem as the land is owned by the shareholders. If they get the new stadium they would have nowt to sell as Rovers will be leaseholders only of the new site which is the best safeguard of all.
Still your name is totally appropriate. Now go to sleep, you've got school in the morning.

All Higgs and McGhee have bought to our club is misery To start a season with a keeper who is 18 and on loan is asking for trouble and trouble is what we are in. Who will want to play for us journeymen and young loan players. McGhee has no real success as a manager and was out the game scouting for a couple of years Now we know why Higgs is sticking to his guns and keeping blind faith in his manager As a result we will hit the conference Dark days ahead Crowds down and season tickets holders must be saying enough is enough. Ron Craig must be turning in his grave

People who say were to good to go down,wake up,reality is this must be without doubt the worse team ever to represent any Bristol club,5 players needed at least or the trap door ,which is already a jar will open and I don't think you'll return.on the upside there will be one hell of a party in BS3...lol

I don't know brennus but she sounds like the type of girl who sits at the back of the class picking her nose unable to make a valid contribution and then runs home to mummy balling her eyes out saying i could'nt think of anything to say,the facts are :
1] The planning meeting for sainsburys has been delayed at the request of bristol rovers untill they have a better idea which league they will be playing in ,FACT
2] Maggots are in negotiation to purchase land for car parking close to cossham st ground, FACT
3] Once relegated Mcghee will be sacked without compensation.No reward for failure,FACT
4] Once the mem site is sold the mortgage,paye,trade creditors will be paid and the balance will be a divi up between the current custodians,FACT
Hope this makes you feel better .gashead since 1959.